Eswatini 2nd best in Black Bass Fishing World Champs
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M– Eswatini anglers started the Black Bass World Championships in the United States of America (USA) on a high note.
This is after they were ranked the second best African country out of 19 countries. Overall Eswatini were ranked 10th. The first African country to be in the top ranks was South Africa (SA) who were 2nd overall.
The Eswatini national team, on their first day managed to amass a total weight of 6.1 grammes. Zambia is the third best African country and were ranked 11th overall after getting a total weight of 5.5 grammes.
Under the pair ranking, Eswatini was ranked 17.5 and fourth in Africa. This was the pair of Corne and Jakobus Bateman who managed a weight of 2.9 grammes. The leaders in the pair rankings in Africa were SA, followed by Zimbabwe and Zambia. Overall, the three countries were ranked fifth, 14th and 16th respectively. The leaders in day one main category was the
United States of America (USA) who caught a total weight of 20.016 grammes while coming second was SA on 11.3 grammes. Serbia came third after catching fish weighing 10.2 grammes. Italy were fourth on 8.3 grammes while Romania followed closely on the Italian on the fifth spot on 9.6 grammes.
Challenge
One of the senior anglers, who is also Eswatini Angling Association President Derek Hopf, said the team was in high spirits and ready for the challenge of the next three days of fishing.
“Our competitors range from experienced to first time competitors, each with their own experience to draw from to do their best.
“Team Eswatini is ready against all the odds to create an upset in 2022 World Championships. We are confident and strong mentally and physically to do exceptionally well,” he said. Eswatini’s six-member team includes Hopf, team manager William Brown, Lantham Stevens Kung, Ricus Bateman, Corie Batemen and Captain Wimpie Bouwer.